Being happy

I actually took this picture. Lockheed Blackbird, I don't know
what it has to do with this blog but it looks sweet.

We had a person we talked to this week tell us that the most important thing to him is being happy (yeah that's my new favorite question "what matters most to you?") So I've been thinking about how we achieve happiness all week.

We are happy. (this was before we walked
all day in the snow) we were happy after as well

Originally I thought that the reason we go on missions is to lay up blessings in heaven in exchange for being miserable for 2 short years. (again I probably wasn't that bad but just to get the point across) But it isn't. That is the greatest blessing of the gospel. Happiness. Now and always. Something that cant be promised by anyone or anything. Everyone is striving to be happy but most of the time they miss the mark, they get some momentary joy and then despair.  

Preparation to help others be happy

As a missionary we spend everyday serving and trying to help others and the by product of doing that is happiness. So to break it down. Everyone wants happiness, everyone tries to get it in differant ways, the simple solution is service and the Gospel of Jesus Christ (basically the same thing).

Restless Missionary Syndrome (RMS)

This is me (actually its a piece of plastic. But an important
piece of plastic at that)

 So the word of the day is time.

One of the things that is ingrained in our minds as missionaries is the importance of time. "you only have two years" they would say (that phrase drove me nuts at the beginning). Every minute that is not spent sharing the gospel, preparing to share the gospel or serving in some way is a minute wasted.

We were in a dinner this week and there reaches this time where I just feel like I need to leave. I just have to go. I'm wasting time. The family kept making jokes about how I was insulting them but it ingrained so deeply into me as a missionary that I didn't care. We come to desire to share the gospel with others so much that everything else starts to become less important. Itchy legs get it?

At first I thought of missionary work as a job. We go to another country. We learn a new language. We gain "clients". we convince them to accept what we believe and then we help incorporate them into our church. +1 point woohoo. rinse and repeat. (alright I wasn't this bad but you get the idea)

Now it feels like a vacation. I have a limited time to do all that I can. But we aren't out there seeing the sights. We are giving souls the most important message they will ever hear. Every moment I spend working and learning and loving is another chance to bring someone greater happiness then they can achieve through anything else in this world. I know it because I feel it!

This is not me (it's Elder Raban.
I'm not baby sitting him I promise.)

Every moment is Precious! Every single second. We aren't here for nothing. We are here to bring happiness to all that are around us and in return we receive the greatest reward.

This is my desk

Love you!
(again w/ the high pitched voice)


Also this is my acebook (yeah I totally wrote acebook because mine is better then everyone else's)

And I don't have twitter.

Well its the name I'd better Elaborate (pt1)

What does it mean to be "Missionary Minded"?                   That's the question of the day isn't it?

(This plane is HUGE!
and I took a Picture of it at Dulles airport)

We'll answer this with my story of the day. (it may or may not have actually happened today). This morning I flew into the airport not actually having any idea what I was supposed to be doing there. I had just gotten off of an airplane and was wearing a very visible name tag that marked me as a full time missionary for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints. At that point I had no idea what that meant. Its like that first day of school and you have none of your friends in any of the same classes. You just go to school with this general idea that you are going to learn something and there is some important reason that you are there (this is not being missionary minded)

Our mission President (the first thing he said to us was "I'm your daddy for the next two years!" he is a go getter) picked us up and dropped us off at George Mason University and proceeded to instruct us by his example. He went around and proceeded to love them (that's the best way I can describe it). He loved them so much that they responded to him, they listened to what he had to say and they gave him their attention and interest.

So the reason I chose this picture was that I am wearing the
same jacket right now. My name isn't Elder Tanner it's Elder
Ekins.

That the first aspect of it. God doesn't force people to follow him. He loves them first and when they feel of his love they follow. As missionaries we represent God's love to the people of Northern Virginia.

Love You! (again with the High pitched manly voice)

Official Deceleration to the World

Yello. I am a very serious blogger and full time Missionary from The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints.(I always imagine someone with a very deep voice saying that aloud) I also put my random thoughts within parenthesis even though I'm not sure if that how they are supposed to be used.

The purpose of this blog is to enliven(its a real word ;), uplift, entertain, educate and bring closer to Christ all who read it. As a full time missionary all that we do is focused on Jesus Christ so naturally my musings would center all around him. (the thought proceeds the action right?) With this I will post many expertly taken photographs of things I encounter every day in my unusual line of service. 

Last of all please realize that this Blog is very official (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints does not endorse it) because it has been proof read many times and has painstakingly been edited by the author himself during his 1 hour of internet time every day. With that said the posts will be short but regular.

Love you! (I always have a really stocky guy with black spiky hair saying this in a high pitched voice in my head.)

(Plus I'm in DCish)